Dilator.



c. a. Glsou.

DILATOB.

(Appliceion am Mayen, 1902.)

(In Model.)

C IEEMEFF A ITOHNE'YS Tan. n. c. THE NORRIS PUERS CO.. PHOTO-LTHOV, WSNIN UNITED STA-,TES-

iPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESv GORDON GIBSON, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

DILATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,789, dated June 17, 1902.

Application tiled March 20, 1902. Serial No. 99,106. (Nomod'el.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GORDON GIB- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sioux City, in the county of Wood- 3 .buryand State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Dilator, of which the'following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a surgical instrument adapted for use as a urethral, uterine, or anal dilator, and has for its object to provide a simple construction which may be readily applied, and which will exert pressure without any injurious effect, and which will not be liable to breakage. s

The invention consists in the novel lconstruction and combination ot the several parts, as will be'hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out -inthe claims.

Reference is to had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Figure lis a longitudinal section of myimproved dilator in its contracted form. Fig. 2 is a similar View, showing the instrument in an expanded condition; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of FigQl.

The instrument comprises a tube A, the walls of which are of uniform thicknessfrom the rear end a to the point a intermediate of its ends; but while the outer surface 'off the tube is constant in diameter throughout its length the walls of the tube are reduced in thickness or are inclined in an outwarddirection from the point a' to the point a2 near the forward end of the tube, and said walls are of uniform thickness, yet thinner thany the other portion of the tube from the point a2 to the forward end a3 of the tube, which end is open. The bore of the tube thus increases in width toward its forward end.

At the outerend of the tube A a handle B is formed or secured', preferably made with eyes or finger-rings B, and the tube A is contained in a thin soft-rubber sheath C, provided with an air-vent c near its forward end, and a solid, curved, or rounded tip c' at its forward end, against which the forward end of the tube A has bearing.

Arod D extends loosely the length of the tube A and out beyond its inner end, being provided with a thread d for a greater portion of its length, which thread is preferably carried .to the outer endoftherod to permit the ready attachment of ahandleD.l The threaded portion of the rodv D is passed through a nut E, adapted to be'manually operated and which bears against the rear end of the tube A.

The tube A has longitudinal slits e extending almost from end to end, forming segmental bars e', (best shown in Fig. 3,) which are capable of being sprung or of bending outward, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, and such expansion of the bars c is brought about through au approximately pear-shaped piston or plunger D2 atthe forward end of the rod D being broughtiinto engagement with the inner surface of the split section of the tube A.

In operation the' instrument, being in the'` contracted form shown in Fig. l, is introduced into the body a proper distance, and then by turning the nut E f the i piston or,l plunger D2 is caused to travelrearward or outward, lexpanding the tube A,as is shown in Fig. 2, and correspondingly dilating the body. It will be observed that in the expanding operation the tube A and sheath C do not move lengthforms a continuous cover for the split tube A.

the edges of the latter. do not come in contact with the body and breakage of the bars e', of which the main portion of the tube is formed, is extremely unlikely. Should it, however,A take place, the sheath will prevent the broken pieces from coming in Contact with and injuring the body.

The instrument is adapted for use as a urethral, uterine, oranal dilator.

Having thus Vdescribed lmy invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A dilater for surgical purposes, comprising a tube split so as to consist of al plurality of segments or bars,;the bore of the said tube being widened at one end,` a plunger movable lengthwise in the tube and arranged to engage the said widened end of the body of the tube to expand said tube, and an expansible sheath in which the said tube is inclosed'.

2. A dilator for surgical purposes, comprising a tube split so as to consist of a plurality of segments or bars, the bore of the said tube being gradually widened in direction of one end, a plunger movable lengthwise in the tube and arranged to engage said widened end and the body of the tube to expand said tube, a nut held to revolve at the outer end of the tube and engaging a threaded portion of the plunger-rod, and an expansible sheath in which the saidtube is inclosed.

A dilator for surgical purposes, comprising a split tube, a plunger movable lengthwise in the tube and arranged to expand the same, means for actuating the plunger, and an expansible sheath in which the said tube is inclosed. f

4. A dilator for surgical purposes, comprising a split tube having its bore tapered in direction of its forward end, the diameterof the bore of the said tube at its forward end being greater than at any other point throughout its length, a plunger movable lengthwise in the tube and arranged to expand the same, means for actuating the plunger, and an eX- pansible sheath in which the said tube is inclosed. v

5. A dilator for surgical purposes, comprising a split tube, a handle at the outer end of said tube, a nut mounted to turn on the tube adjacent to the handle, a plunger mounted to slide within the tube and adapted to expand the same, said plunger having a screwthreaded rod extending through the nut, and an expansible sheath in which said tube is incased.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence oi' two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES GORDON GIBSON.

W'itnesses:

JAMES DOUGHTY, THEO. L. THOMPSON. 

